P150M in smuggled cigarettes seized in Bulacan, 19 nabbed

Authorities arrested 19 individuals and seized P150 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Baliwag City, Bulacan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the PNP said they found over 2,000 boxes of cigarettes from container vans to smaller delivery trucks during an anti-smuggling operation along DRT Highway in Barangay Tarcan on Tuesday.

The confiscated items were found to be lacking the required Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps.

Authorities also recovered six vehicles allegedly used in its distribution.

The arrested individuals and the seized items are in the custody of Police Regional Office 3 (PRO 3).

The PNP said follow-up operations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the illegal activity.

“We will continue to intensify our enforcement actions to ensure that all those involved in illicit trade are brought before the law,” PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said. — JMA, GMA News